Predicting the host cities for 2026 World Cup

After months of speculation and competition with Morocco's bid, the joint "United 2026" bid of U.S., Canada and Mexico was awarded Wednesday with the hosting rights to the expanded 48-team World Cup in 2026.

Upon being awarded with the World Cup, the United 2026 organizing committee unveiled 23 finalists to be among the 16 host cities.

United States

All seven cuts will come from the U.S. finalists. That would potentially leave these 10 cities as the hosts.

Atlanta - Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Capacity: 71,000)

The home of the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United is a candidate to be a semifinal site as well.

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Dallas - AT&T Stadium (Capacity: 80,000)

Jerry Jones' AT&T Stadium has hosted Gold Cup matches and plenty of international friendlies. Expect it to add a World Cup semifinal to its resume.

(AP Photo/tony gutierrez)

(AP Photo/tony gutierrez)

Kansas City - Arrowhead Stadium (Capacity: 76,416)

Kansas City's central location, stadium capacity and soccer culture make it a likely host. I can't see the Midwest getting shut out of a World Cup site, especially when the U.S. Soccer National Training Center is in Kansas City.

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles - Rose Bowl (Capacity: 92,000)

Los Angeles is practically a lock to be a World Cup host city, and while the Inglewood stadium will be newer, the 92,000-seat Rose Bowl is the stadium in consideration.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Miami - Hard Rock Stadium (Capacity: 64,767)

Miami is a perfect city to host World Cup matches. It has plenty of experience with the Super Bowls and college football championships. Plus, the renovated Hard Rock Stadium looks like it was designed to host international soccer.

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

New York - MetLife Stadium (Capacity: 82,500 to 87,157)

Look for MetLife Stadium to host the 2026 World Cup final.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Philadelphia - Lincoln Financial Field (Capacity: 69,176 to 69,328)

Philadelphia may end up being the final city to make the cut as a host.

(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

San Francisco - Levi's Stadium (Capacity: 68,500 to 75,000)

It would be surprising if the West Coast doesn't get three host cities. Levi's Stadium makes sense just from a travel standpoint.

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Seattle - CenturyLink Field (Capacity: 69,000 to 72,000)

For all that Seattle has done to grow the game in the U.S., this soccer-crazed city deserves to host in the World Cup.

Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Washington, D.C. - FedExField (Capacity: 82,000)

FedExField is a huge stadium, and let's face it - the nation's capital is going to be a host site.

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

That would leave Baltimore, Nashville, Cincinnati, Houston, Denver, Boston and Orlando as the final cuts.